For some of the bigger companies, I'd like to know what sort of methods you used to get your name out there and become a bigger webhosting company.

My average client number goes up each month, but Id like to really try and boost it, but I'm up for suggestions on how to do that. What worked good for you?

You can't beat the power of word of mouth in my opinion. I was reading an interview earlier today that Tina Peter's from AxisHost did a while ago. In her interview, she said the following:

The trick is getting the first 100 customers. Once you do that, you're home free. Treat those first 100 customers like they are gold and they will bring in others. Word-of-mouth makes up probably 75% of our new sign-ups.

I couldn't agree with Tina more.

Any other advice?

Originally posted by XeHSean
Any other advice?


Create your brand image, your company's solid identity; a brand image can be a powerful tool for promoting and marketing your product or service. A brand image should be developed in parallel to your business, and overall the branding strategy should constitute an integral part of any business plan.

The word of mouth is a part of your brand image and your identity if you render quality service and support to your customers doing it extendedly well.

No one can be big in this business overnight, please remember, it'll take time and it all depends upon you only.

Advertise on third parties.

Google Adwords is the best solution to get your name out.
Kanoodle also works.

Google Adwords is the best solution to get your name out.

I have to disagree, Gibbs. The hosting industry is too overrun for there to be any decent space left in Google adwords, at least for a decent price.

Originally posted by Equentity - Jamie
. . . I couldn't agree with Tina more.
Yep, the first 100 are the hardest, and after that you have momentum. :)

Originally posted by etechsupport2
Create your brand image, your company's solid identity; a brand image can be a powerful tool for promoting and marketing your product or service.
XeHSean probably wants to know how to do that. :)

Aussie Bob,

Thanks!

As it's matter of creating an image that's should be positive, relevant, and memorable through his quality product and service, I could not help him much more right now as it's not a small chapter or a simple formula. I think he understand it well, my post was just to bring him back to word of mouth as he was asking another advice.

He is the instrument and he is the player, he should practice to synchronize the tunes to make a big difference.

Regards.

Originally posted by etechsupport2
He is the instrument and he is the player, he should practice to synchronize the tunes to make a big difference.


A very true statement, Well Said!

Here is what I might do if I were the OP, and didn't have a logo(and had some significant user base).

Create a logo creation contest, let it last maybe 1-3 months. Winning design gets a free webhosting package. Kill two birds with one stone :)

A good affiliate program can help as well, motivates your clients even more.

I'd say the brand image should have well spent time on, also nice little bits here and there such as an example from my company "Sensris was founded under the promise to provide the upmost in quality, service, and reliability to those looking to bring their business or website online." so little bits like that - should be visible, will entice your visitors to signup, as they see that your dedicated to supporting them etc, also, to keep your customers, send an email, say 2 weeks after they signup to ask them how their hosting is, and maybe give them a call in the first week of them to see if they have got it all sorted, thats what I did, and well, that customers still with me after 2 years, we are actually good friends now, so doing stuff like that is great.

Also have 3 paragraphs describing your company, your support, and your challenge.
Such:
About Us
We were create to offer......... and some nice things to back it up
Support
Our support.... We will often...... We treat our customers.....
Our challenge
(You company) challenges you to find a better webhost with better..... and ...... and competative.....

Thats just some simple things,
Now to advertising,
well I advertised with google, spent 80 bucks, and had 1 customer, on a 3 dollar plan, money well-earned... Not.
Try using kanoodle, don't spend too much, if you get customers from it, say, spend another 10 bucks.
I've seen people advertising in chatrooms, try that, program a robot yourself to send a message out, or download one, you could also offer that advertising as a plan, so yeh, little tid-bits like that.
Also, expand your contacts, so if someone you know is offering design, offer web design, so referr them to your friend, and tell your friend to offer his/her customers to you.

Tip:
NEVER USE POPUNDER ADVERTISING PROGRAMS, OR TRAFFIC EXCHANGES, THEY NEVER WORK.

some really great advice, thanks everyone!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by mythologen
[B]A very true statement, Well Said!


Thanks!

Overall I suggest that you should define your goal, mission, strategy and the policy well in advance during the journey of success as each of that should answer as below.

Goal should answer - where are we going?

Mission should answer - what are we doing?

Strategies answer - In what direction one we headed and what route have we selected.

Policies - Policies provide to guide you for getting there. :)

advertising on sites look for people whos offering it.

Although I dont consider us one of the bigger ones, here are some other ways to get your first 100.

-write some articles and post them on some places. If you have some helpful or interesting information, sometimes it can lend credibility and help generate some leads.

-offer much value to customers. A rule I like to go by is Never discount, always add value. Free ebooks, templates, some sort of service... dont oversell though.

-friends, family, ect. - give them a couple months free or something :) give them free web design or something.

I'd recommend just submitting your name via cpanel. worked for me anyway

I'd recommend just submitting your name via cpanel. worked for me anyway

Could you elaborate, Mohit?

Another method you might want to try, Sean, although this does work better for Web development companies, rather than Web hosting companies, is making a short list of people who have Websites, and therefore must have Web hosting, say 100 phone numbers. Make sure they are targeted, so if you are looking for UK customers, make sure you call people from the UK.

On the phone, introduce yourself, say you have one question, and it shouldn't take more than 2 minutes of their time.

Simply ask them how they found their Web host. There are going to be plenty who say, "We didn't, our Web developer found them for us". Maybe carry on phoning until you have 50-75 decent answers, rather than "Our Web developer found them for us".

You will then have a decent list of the best places to advertise. I have never tried it with the Web hosting industry, but with the Web development industry, you end up with a trend of about 3-5 places that around 4-10 customers each noted as the place where they heard about their company, this obviously show's it is a decent place to advertise.

Then, away you go and research costs. It may well be there aren't any costs, it may well be it costs $5000.

Once you have used that research, release it. Release it to the press, release it to Web hosting magazines. The advantage of free advertising in the press and Web hosting magazines far outweighs the disadvantages of your competitors using your research.

Local and radio advertising can work well too. Advertising at colleges can bring good results.

The best thing is word of mouth, as previously mentioned. :)

Articles are a great tool to attract new customers. First of all it might help with your search engine rankings as well as it might attract readers to check out your website.

Christoph